* * *
The next day, Grace turned her attention to the mounting bills and invoices that needed to be paid or sent out. This was a more daunting task, made harder by Henry’s coding and her poor knowledge of the industry. However, despite her earlier mistakes, Talek still had confidence in her skills and she was determined to prove him right. Grace decided to look back over the previous six months of records to match his coding to the invoices sent out and the bills that were paid. Gradually, page by page, she worked her way through and learnt his system, taking notes as she went, so she could refer to them if she needed. Soon discrepancies began to emerge. The odd mistake was inevitable, but when a large quantity of lime was not accounted for Grace was determined to find out why. Dare she ask Talek? His attitude towards her had thawed considerably, but was it up to the task of her questioning his accounts? Perhaps it was best to find out what the lime could be used for? If it wasn’t for business purposes, it would explain why it was not recorded? Yet it had been paid for from their business account. She closed the ledger. She was determined not to jump to any conclusions and decided to ask someone else who knew everything there was to know about mining clay.
* * *
Grace waited in the shadow of the village town hall doorway as the miners left Bothick Mine. Alfred, with his soot covered face and blackened hands, marked a strong contrast to the miners splashed with white clay. The sight of him always reminded her of everything she had lost. Her identity, her home, the man she believed to be her father, had all been taken from her thanks to his aunt’s vile words. Grace turned her face away, fearful that he would see her. What would Talek think of her, if he knew she was a result of a brutal rape? He would be concerned that Amelia would be tainted by her association withher. His opinion of her would change too. He’d wonder, as Grace did herself, if she carried the same character flaws as her birth father did. I must stay strong, thought Grace, I mustn’t let the sight of one man undo everything that has mended over the last few months.
When she looked again, Alfred was gone. She looked up and down the road. It was covered in tracks of white powder, made by the wheels of the wagons as they travelled to the port of Charlestown. It was quieter now, with just a few straggling miners. Grace saw Tommy’s face amongst them. Despite his age, his hearing was good and he immediately turned to her when she called his name.
‘Good to see you, Miss Kellow,’ he called out to her. ‘Bit late for shopping. ’Itchens shuts ’is doors at four and will be roasting ’is toes in front of ’is fire by now.’
‘It’s not a tincture I’m after, Tommy. It’s you I want to see.’
Grace beckoned him to cross the road. The doorway was just large enough for the both of them. Grace wanted to keep Talek’s financial affairs confidential so was reluctant to be specific.
‘What would lime be used for? Is it used for mining clay?’
Tommy scratched his head with square shaped nails. ‘’Ow much?’
‘A large amount.’
‘Lime is good for making whitewash for painting walls. Turns the wall white and keeps the algae at bay. All the miners’ cottages are painted with it, both inside and out, but mining clay . . . nah.’
Grace breathed a sigh of relief. So they had used it to keep their workers’ cottages in good repair and it was no more than an oversight on Henry’s part to not record the bill in the ledger. Thank goodness she hadn’t accused him of something worse. She had come to realise that his accounting skills may not beas good as hers, but she had learnt her lesson about jumping to conclusions and was glad she had treaded carefully this time.
‘Why do you ask?’
‘Because I’m interested. I thought I saw a load of it and wondered where it was being taken.’ It was a half-truth. She may not have seen it with her own eyes, but she’d seen the bill for its purchase. She thanked Tommy and watched him walk away. Now she would visit Henry and explain the discrepancy. Talek had received news that he had been discharged from hospital and was convalescing at home. Once he realised he had omitted to include it, he’d make the necessary amendments and all would be well. No one need know about the discrepancy, except Henry of course.
She waited for Tommy to leave before stepping out of the doorway and turning in the opposite direction. She walked straight into Alfred.
‘Thought it was you ’iding in the shadows. I ’eard you were living around ’ere,’ he said, sidestepping to stop her passing as he tried to look into her face.
Grace refused to look at him as she attempted to pass. ‘Did you follow me?’
‘Na . . . you’re not that special to me.’
‘But you are here all the same.’
‘Found out after I arrived.’
She gave up trying to pass him and lifted her gaze to meet his. ‘Who told you I was here?’
‘Does it matter?’
She considered it for a moment. It wouldn’t change anything now. ‘No, you’re right, it doesn’t. What matters is what you intend to do now you’re here.’
Alfred smiled, the pale lines on his face disappearing as his skin creased into a grimace. ‘Don’t worry. I’m not going to spoil your little set up ’ere. Your secret’s safe.’
She wanted to believe him, but she didn’t. He was enjoying his moment of one-upmanship, when the balance of power tilts precariously to one side. The power and control was going to his head, she could see it in his eyes. Her fear fed that power and she would take no part in it. She attempted to sidestep him.
‘I’ve been paid to keep quiet,’ he said.
Grace stopped and stared at him. ‘By who?’ Her father was the only person who knew or cared enough to put his hand in his pocket for her.
Alfred laughed. ‘That would be telling.’
Grace could stomach no more. ‘I have to go.’
